I wear Aku hiking boots and absolutely love them. I have the rock climbing shoes for higher traction and just bought the street shoes. Every single pair are extremely comfortable

Tribute II GTX - Men's

No break-in period needed. Boots felt great all day.

Love both my AKU and the latest Adapta SD GTX.

Wear everyday. Most comfortable shoes I have ever worn.

What happens when you need to be on your feet outdoors in challenging terrain with body armor and it's cold and snowy out? You put away the pilgrims and you reach for the Griffons! I think these were called something else back in 2013 when I got my first pair. They're stiff enough to give you sure footing in the Rocky Mountains, and warm enough to keep your feet comfortable too. My original pair wasn't as stiff and didn't have the full rubber rand. My second pair did and it just made the boot even better. I wear these when I'm going into challenging winter terrain but the situation doesn't require a full on mountaineering boot or crampons. I'm onto my third pair now because I have friends with sticky fingers! I absolutely love these boots. I have worn them in the mountains, in military service, and now in law enforcement in a small mountain town in the Rockies. I have never managed to damage these boots, they have never left me with cold feet, and the support they offer in challenging terrain is fantastic. The real beauty is that this comes in an incredibly lightweight package. They are lighter than all other boots in this category and they fit great due to the last Aku uses. When it's cold outside, the Griffons are always there for me.

I have been wearing the pilgrim since its development days. I had friend in the UK who sent me a pair his unit was trying out and it was love at first ruck march. Basically they were looking for something as comfortable as the Spider but could hold up to the demands of special operations, specifically the ability to support moderate military loads. The Pilgrim does this brilliantly! It's a little stiffer than the Spider but just as comfortable and brilliant when you add those moderate loads. I have worn these in a very wide variety of environments to include military training and operations, light mountaineering, law enforcement, construction and more. I'm wearing a pair right now on a construction site in Kansas. They were fantastic when I was using them doing rope access construction in Seattle! Basically, any time I need something a little stiffer than the Spider, out come the Pilgrims.

A couple notes given some of the other reviews I have seen and my overall experience:
1. There is a goretex version and a non-goretex version. I love both and wear them in the appropriate environments.
2. Quality Control: With one and only one exception, the Pilgrim has been as bulletproof as the Spider. I did have a pair 2 years ago where the stitching came apart within 2 weeks of wearing them. This was the only instance of a Quality Control problem I have ever seen with AKU in 13 years and I have never seen another one since.
3. Durability: The Pilgrim is every bit as durable as the Spider, which in my experience has been legendary. The only reason I go through Pilgrims faster than Spiders is because I now work in construction and the abuse I subject them to is frankly insane and unreasonable. The kicker is that I wear Pilgrims in construction because I cannot find another boot for less than $700 that is both insanely comfortable and will last longer than a couple months. I can wear a pair of pilgrims for 4 years before I have to replace it. The average work boot lasts less than 4 MONTHS for me. So yeah, they're rugged as ****.

I could go on but you get the idea. These are boots I can't live without and wholeheartedly endorse.

I've been wearing the NS-564 since 2012 when the NS-564 and the Spider were two different models and you had to know the right people to get either one of them. I have worn them in every environment except the jungle and in a wide variety of activities from light summer mountaineering to intense tactical training, construction (don't tell OSHA!), and as a daily driver. These boots have never, ever let me down. They are always supportive and frankly the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn, period. It might sound hyperbolic but it's true, I can't imagine life without a pair of these on my feet. This sentiment is shared by everyone I have ever known who has a pair. It's a drug, we're addicted, and we will never stop!

To be very serious though, these boots are shockingly good and the cult-like following they have is for darn good reasons. I would also like to share that they are incredibly durable. I threw away my first pair after 8 years because I had literally worn the soles off of them. The second pair I had, I destroyed after doing roofing and solar installation work for a year after wearing them as a daily driver for 6 years. Most boots only last 6 months in that environment (asphalt shingles are literally sandpaper). I still have the other two pair I bought years ago and they're still going strong despite the abnormal amounts of abuse I put them through. You can't go wrong with them. As long as Aku keeps making these, I will always have two pair in my inventory!

These boots are honestly great for every season. They’re highly breathable, and my feet stay dry much longer than with a Goretex boot.

The fit is comfortable and precise. The heel cup is great, and this boot handles going down steep slopes very well.

Absolutely love these Boots as always! such a great product! very comfortable and crazy water proof!

I have a pretty wide range of boots/hiking shoes and these have become my all time favourite light hiking shoe. Durable, great support and nice and light...Perfect for any day hike and more...I took them on a 3 day trip and never once put my heavy hiking boots on. Great all around and once you get them on, you will see how tough it is to go without them.

I received these boots about a month ago, I was diagnosed with beginning stages of plantar fasciitis, so before it started getting worse I went to the podiatrist and during the course of x-rays and measurements, along with the two most painful shots I have taken in my life I caught it early enough and only require orthopedic insoles that are commonly made and not custom made.
I installed my required insoles in these boots and first night pulled 14 hours my feet did not ache, they were very comfortable the entire shift. The second night pulled 12 hours plus a foot pursuit through a field still containing residual surface water still standing soaked my feet and wet my slacks from the knee down from the water splashing.
I can say about these boots are they fit like a good quality tennis shoe, they are super comfortable, they fit like a glove on your feet.
Now one thing I would recommend, AKU if possible a small but not performance affecting water-resistant / water-proofing membrane would be superb and a game changer for these boots.

I spend a lot of time in the field doing bird photography, so I bought two pairs of these boots and rotate between them. IMO, these are the best of the best. There's nothing like a leather-lined boot, because the boot will conform a bit to your foot. Boots lined with a synthetic mesh will not stretch at all, if they don't fit you in the store they never will.

Minima - Women's

great everyday outdoor shoes as a climbing arborist.